Indiana State Police Seek Help Identifying 1983 Murder Victims

(CBS) — Indiana State Police and authorities in Jasper and Newton counties are asking for help to identify three homicide victims from a cold case dating back 30 years.

The victims were discovered in October 1983, but have been unidentified ever since. The first two victims’ bodies were found in Newton County, along U.S. Route 41 in Lake Village. The third victim was found in Jasper County, off County Road 100 West in Rensselear.

Police said the victims might have been missing as long as a year before their bodies were found.

Victim 1

Composite sketch of an unidentified homicide victim found in Newton County, Ind., in October 1983. The smaller images at the bottom show the victims’ two tattoos on his right forearm. (Credit: Indiana State Police)

The first victim was a white male, between 17 and 23 years old, around 5’2” to 5’9” tall. He had two tattoos on his right forearm – a jail-type modified cross and a modified rectangle. He was wearing a pair of size 30×30 brown slacks, size 10½ brown ankle-high fleeced boots, Jockey brand underwear, and two white tube socks – one with black and red stripes, the other with red and blue stripes. Police believe he might be from southwestern or central Indiana, eastern Illinois, or Kentucky.

Victim 2

Composite Sketch of a homicide victim found in Newton County, Ind., in October 1983. The images at bottom show the belt he was wearing, and the buckle with the word “JEANS.” (Credit: Indiana State Police)

The second victim was a black male, between 15 and 18 years old, and 5’8” and 6’2” tall. He might have last been seen near State Road 63 and U.S. 41. He was wearing a white T-shirt, Levi’s jeans, a stretch belt with the word Devil in red on the band and a gold buckle saying JEANS, pajama bottoms with a 27” inseam, size 34 boxer shorts, size 10 black fleece-lined suede Hush Puppy brand boots, and two white tube socks – one with red and blue stripes, the other with blue and yellow stripes.

Victim 3

An unidentified homicide victim found in Jasper County, Ind., in October 1983, might have been carrying this lighter, which has the name Arlene on it. (Credit: Indiana State Police)

The third victim was a white male, between 20 and 22 years old, and around 5’6” and 5’8” in height. He had a slight build and reddish shoulder-length hair. Police believe he might have been last seen on U.S. 41 near Vincennes, Ind. He was wearing Levi’s jeans, tennis shoes, and a gray hooded sweatshirt. He might have been carrying a Zippo-style lighter with the name Arlene on it.